irregular verbs

Irregular and Defective Verbs in Russian

In Russian, most verbs follow the standard first or second conjugation patterns. However, several high-frequency verbs are fully irregular, and others are "defective," meaning they lack certain forms entirely.

1. Fully Irregular Verbs

These verbs often mix endings from both conjugation types or have unique stems.

Хотеть (khotétʹ) – To want
This verb uses first conjugation endings in the singular and second conjugation endings in the plural.
я хочу́ (ya khotétʹ), ты хо́чешь (ty khócheshʹ), он/она́ хо́чет (on/oná khóchet), мы хоти́м (my khotím), вы хоти́те (vy khotíte), они́ хотя́т (oní khotyát)

Бежать (bezhátʹ) – To run
It mostly follows the second conjugation but uses a first conjugation ending for the "they" form.
я бегу́ (ya begú), ты бежи́шь (ty bezhíshʹ), он бежи́т (on bezhít), мы бежи́м (my bezhím), вы бежи́те (vy bezhíte), они́ бегу́т (oní begút)

Есть (yestʹ) – To eat
An ancient irregular conjugation pattern.
я ем (ya yem), ты ешь (ty yeshʹ), он ест (on yest), мы еди́м (my yedím), вы еди́те (vy yedíte), они́ едя́т (oní yedyát)

Дать (datʹ) – To give (Perfective)
Follows a pattern similar to "to eat."
я дам (ya dam), ты дашь (ty dashʹ), он даст (on dast), мы дади́м (my dadím), вы дади́те (vy dadíte), они́ даду́т (oní dadút)

2. Defective Verbs (Missing Forms)

Some verbs cannot be conjugated in the 1st person singular ("I") because the resulting form sounds awkward or non-existent to native speakers. To express "I," speakers use a paraphrase.

• Победить (pobedítʹ) – To win: No "I win" form. Use я одержу́ побе́ду (I will gain victory) or я смогу́ победи́ть (I will be able to win).
• Убедить (ubedítʹ) – To convince: No "I convince" form. Use я попро́бую убеди́ть (I will try to convince).
• Очутиться (ochutítʹsya) – To find oneself: No "I find myself" form. Use я могу́ очути́ться (I might find myself).
• Пылесосить (pylesósitʹ) – To vacuum: While пылесо́шу exists in some dictionaries, many avoid it. Use я чи́щу пылесо́сом (I clean with a vacuum).

3. Usage Restrictions and Nuances

Кушать (kúshatʹ) vs. Есть (yestʹ)
Both mean "to eat." Есть is the standard, neutral word. Кушать is often considered colloquial or even "childish" when used by adults referring to themselves. However, it is common in the imperative (inviting guests to eat):
Ку́шайте, пожа́луйста! (Kúshayte, pozháluysta!) – Please, eat!

Слыхать (slykhátʹ) vs. Слышать (slýshatʹ)
While слышать is fully conjugated, слыхать (to hear/to have heard) is usually restricted to the infinitive and the past tense.
Я о нём не слыха́л. (Ya o nyom ne slykhál) – I haven't heard of him.

Future Tense Restrictions
The verbs мочь (to be able) and хотеть (to want) are rarely used in the imperfective future (e.g., "I will be wanting"). Instead, the perfective versions смочь and захотеть are used to express future ability or desire.